The Full Read · Article by Article
Joshua Paul Kolar
Seventh Circuit · appt. Biden
7/7
🥇 Fit for the Bench
1Ethics & Recusalcritical
71%★ earned
“No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause.” — Madison, Federalist No. 10
No documented disclosure lapse, gift issue, or recusal complaint; clean record though brief as a circuit judge since January 2024.
2Fidelity to Democracycritical
74%★ earned
“…a government of laws, and not of men.” — Marshall, Marbury v. Madison
Confirmed 66-25 with no documented episodes of defying higher courts or bending law to anti-democratic ends; limited public record.
3Judicial Temperament
72%★ earned
“Justice must satisfy the appearance of justice.” — Frankfurter
Former magistrate judge and Navy Reserve officer with no reported reprimands or civility complaints; limited public record.
4Reason, Not Ideology
72%★ earned
“We are not final because we are infallible…” — Robert H. Jackson
New to the appellate bench with a thin published record showing no signs of grievance- or result-driven rhetoric.
5Intellectual Honesty & Precedent
72%★ earned
“…to stand by things decided.” (stare decisis) — the common-law maxim
No documented inconsistency with confirmation testimony or departure from precedent; record too short to assess deeply.
6Independence from Party
68%★ earned
“The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential.” — Hamilton, Federalist No. 78
Too new to the Seventh Circuit for a documented pattern of crossing or reliably tracking his appointing party.
7Personal Integrity
75%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
Former assistant U.S. attorney with no documented criminal, civil, or corruption matter in the public record.
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Scores are Independent 2026’s own editorial read against the Seven Articles — ≥60% earns the star. The first two Articles are critical: fail Ethics & Recusal or Fidelity to Democracy and there is no seal, whatever else holds. Each Article carries its founding quote as the yardstick. On bias →